BITE Lip Lab Bespoke Lipstick Party!

Last Friday evening, four Toronto chicks headed over to the trendy Queen Street West downtown to experience the thrill of making our very own lipsticks at none other than the BITE Lip Lab!
I’ve never made my own lip colour before save for the one time I melted some Vaseline with a bit of food colouring when I was around 12 years old. 😆 Good times! The BITE Lip Lab is just a tad more advanced than my at home “lab”! XD

Look at everyone so focused on what they’re doing!

I attended this event as a guest of Cat of MyLipAddiction! Along with Cat and myself, there were Maria of Best Day Blogger, and Grieta of TO Beauty ‘n Beyond. 😀 It was such an intimate event that they had closed up shop and served us some wine…
I didn’t indulge too much because I wanted to have some sobrietywhen I was deciding my shades (or else I might have come home with a pastel blue lippie 😆 )
A quick bit of FAQ on the BITE Lip Lab. BITE Beauty, as most of you know by now, is a homegrown Canadian brand that focuses on food grade ingredients in their products. Go ahead and munch on those lipsticks all you want, it’s all good. 😀 The BITE Lip Lab is a natural extension of the ready-made shades – choose from different formulas, a variety of scents and an endless possibility of colours!

There are 9 natural scents to choose from (vanilla, mint, wildberry, cherry, coconut, lime, citrus mango, violet, fresh citrus) and you can choose one or combine two.

I was of two minds when it came to trying to decide what colours I wanted. Should I create something unique and not easily found “off the shelf”? Or, get something common but knowing that it would be in the amazing BITE formula? I ended up getting the best both worlds!

Our Lip Lab Magicians disguised as Lip Lab Artists: Austen and Jen. 🙂 Austen worked with Grieta and Cat, and Jen worked with Maria and I. Maria was my lipstick making buddy for the evening! 😀

First, the lip prep!1) Removal of existing lipstick – I was rocking BITE Luminous Crème Lipstick in Pepper that night (when in Rome, right?) and it came off cleanly with Lush Lip Wipes. Completely clean lips void of any existing product is a must when testing new lip colours.2) Exfoliation using the Agave Sugar Lip Scrub. I *think* the instruction was to tissue off the excess but um, I just licked my lips clean. This tastes like candy. 😉3) Hydration – we were offered their Agave Lip Mask but if you recall, I tried it before and it made my lips itch! So I asked if there was another option available and Jen offered offered me the Agave lip balm version, which I ended up liking so much that I’ve already bought it from the Sephora sale! 😉

The Shades

Would you believe that I decided to make a red lipstick? Me, the lover of MLBB shades and sheer tinted lip balms? 😮

1) Everyday Red
This is such a difficult shade to pin down for a lot of people. But having a fabulous red lipstick is like having a little black dress! I wanted a shade that was brightening on the face and was easy to wear. Jen wrote down the following notes based on my preferences:
• blue based red
• creamy / AB (Amuse Bouche finish – there are other options available including Luminous, Matte Crème, and Glossy Sheer)

Jen mixing up the first batch of red.

Here are the formulas for the red:Version A:
• 1/2 K7121
• 1/4 tannin
Although I requested a red, it took some getting used to actually seeing RED on myself. It was a bit tricky to apply on my lips precisely from the disposable flocked applicator so Jen provided a BITE lip pencil for me to fill in the edges – very helpful. I got more comfortable seeing myself with red lips (after many rounds of assurances from the gang!) but I requested just a touch toned down shade of red.

My lipstick mix sheet. Like a work of art in itself.

Version B:
• 1/2 K7
• 1/4 tannin
• 1/6 almond
This was the winner! The addition of the almond shade toned down the colour to a more wearable red for me.

There’s Austen, creating lipsticks and dispensing wise words.

Austen said it best when he described this shade as “You’re wearing that red, it’s not wearing you.” Exactly! ❤
I’ve decided to call this shade “I’m Not Really a Streetwalker“. 😉 It’s scented with a tantalizing citrus mango vanilla fragrance. Swatch will be below.

My second shade is one that I’ll be wearing a LOT. The quintessential MLBB colour. Hey, I just had to. I’m fairly certain that a MLBB nude shade is BITE Lip Lab’s most requested custom colour. It makes sense since what’s my perfect nude may not be your perfect nude – why not get it customized.2) Perfect Nude
• midtone
• AB (Amuse Bouche finish)
• Mauve

Version A:
• 1/2 nude
• 1/6 musk
• 1/4 rhubarb
The first iteration of this was slightly too pale so I asked for some “oomph” – I know, very technical! 😛

Originally, the sheets had both “Stashy” and my real name but I requested it to be removed because I knew I’d want to photograph these for the blog! 😉

Version B:
1/2 rhubarb
1/4 musk
1/4 nude
See how the base colours are all the same but just a tweak of the ratios? This mixture was truly my perfect nude! I wore this for the rest of the evening. It felt so good on my lips – the Amuse Bouche formula is dreamy.
This one is scented with coconut lime – yum. I’m calling this shade “Sleepy Tofu“, in honour of Cat’s cute Chihuahua. 😉

The scene of the crime. Trying on lipsticks is messy business. At one point my fingertips were stained bloody red…

The Creation

The actual “production” process of the lipsticks is quite straightforward but fascinating at the same time.

“S” for super! These jars hold precise ratios of bases and pigments based on the “recipe” from the sheets.

At one point I compared it to cooking, which it kind of is: measure out the correct ingredients, mix it up, and “cook” it. Voila, a lipstick!

The waxes / oils are warmed to melt them and mixed in a centrifuge. (Never thought I’d ever use the word “centrifuge” on my blog!)The scents are added.Prepping the molds.Ready for action.

The molds are then chilled rapidly using an anti-griddle (similar to the ones that are used to make Thai rolled ice cream! New side business for BITE Lip Lab? 😉 ) I would have a photo of this in action but I think I had too much wine at this point… 😇

Once set, the bullets can be released from the mold.Then a blank lipstick tube is used to draw out each lipstick bullet.

It is advised not to apply the lipsticks for at least 40 minutes to allow the bullet to completely set. To be safe, I waited 4 days before I opened the tubes. 😆 You guys know about my delayed gratification, right… 😉 4 days is a speed record for me to open up new makeup! XD

Swatches:
For me, the BITE Lip Lab isn’t only about the end product – the lipsticks – it’s about the experience. I’ve never had the opportunity to interact face to face with the people who actually create what I’m going to wear. Think about that for a second – when was the last time you talked to the person who made anything you’re wearing, be it makeup, clothes, jewellery, shoes, etc? There’s just something special about being present through the whole process. The event lasted for an hour and a half but it will live on forever in my mind! ❤
Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re creating your own lipstick colours:
• DO go with an open mind – don’t bother bringing in a lipstick to try to dupe, it really takes out the fun in the whole experience. It’s better to cite an iconic look or reference a colour family instead.
• DO provide direction – just like going to a hairdresser, it’s helpful for the Lip Lab Artists to have an idea of what you prefer. After all, it’s your very own custom lipstick shade for YOU
• DO speak up if you’re not satisfied with the mixture before they finalize the shade – they’re great listeners and can also provide suggestions if you’re unsure of how to improve the colour
• DO look at the colours in various lighting conditions – similar to foundation matching, one set of lighting isn’t going to provide the complete view of how the colours will look on you. We were encouraged to walk to the windows to look at ourselves in daylight.
• DO wear your normal makeup (foundation and blush especially) to see how the lipstick colours will work in combination with the overall look. I even brought along my concealer because I knew there’d be quite a bit of rubbing to try on the various test shades and my skin gets a bit red when rubbed. This helped to clean the edges of my lips as well.
• DO bring a friend along if you can. I think this would make a wonderful party idea for a group of friends or mom / daughter / sister / aunt / grandma dates. 😀

Thank you BITE Lip Lab and Cat for the wonderful evening! ❤

I’ve been spoiled now – a bespoke makeup item has been a dream of mine for ages! First a bespoke lipstick, what’s next? Bespoke foundation? Eye shadow? Nail polish? 😮 Have you been to the BITE Lip Lab? What would be your dream lipstick shade?
For more information on the BITE Lip Lab in Toronto, click here.

This event was organized by Cat Forsley of MyLipAddiction.com. As always, these views are my own.

PS. I revamped my site design as inspired by the tissue paper that BITE Lip Lab used to wrap our precious lipsticks. 😀 ❤

XO SO AMAZING
you miss stasheroo WRITE HEAVENLY STUFF
xxxxxxxx
and u know sleepy tofu is kinda the same as the middle of his nose xxx
your RED is amazing – the name of course LOL
SASSY STASHY XXXX
most beautiful experiential post EVER WRITTEN XO
ALL MY LOVE XO
C

I’m so glad you enjoyed! As I mentioned to you, I had to start drafting this right after the event or else I was worried I would forget something. 😀
Yes, Sleepy Tofu is a bit like his nose colour, hehe. What a cutey.
I wore Sleepy Tofu today – I haven’t had the nerve to wear the red yet. Maybe this weekend!
Thank you so much for making this happen! Remember I was going to go this summer for my birthday? I wouldn’t have been the same though, as going with you and Maria and Grieta! ❤

I’ve always shied away from reds because they overwhelm me. I have fuller lips and anything that draws attention to them makes me feel self conscious! Hehe, that name was based on me asking Austen if I looked like a hooker wearing that red lippie. 😆

1) I’m loving the lipstick makeover on the blog!
2) I’m desperate to do this. I love the double ended Bite lipstick I bought in New York (although sad as one end snapped last week), but the formula is amazing – I know they discontinued that particular formula, but I’m guessing the new ones must have been even better than the last. There’s a chance we’re coming to Toronto for a few days next year and if we do I’m putting this on my list of things to do if we do end up coming! Sleepy Tofu reminds me of Marc Jacobs Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, think you have that from the Sephora Birthday gift last year? And I love the cherry undertone that ‘I’m Not Really A Sleepwalker’ has!
I love the two shades that you created, and aww homage to Sleepy Tofu. I think I’d need one called Crazy Charlie and Dickhead Dexter haha!

The lipstick background is fun – I might leave it up for a bit! 🙂
Yes BITE discontinued the Luminous Creme and replaced it with the Amuse Bouche. I find the 2 formulas similar, the Luminous one is perhaps a touch creamier but the Amuse Bouche is longer lasting. A lot of the key shades from the old line were translated over to the new one.
Hmm you know what? I think I got that Marc Jacobs lipstick last year but haven’t cracked it open! XD I’ll have to do a comparison on Sleepy Tofu and the rest of my MLBB shades. 😉
LMAO Crazy Charlie and Dickhead Dexter are perfect shade names. I wonder what shades they would be?! 😆

Oh my gosh, this looks so FUN!! It would be an awesome experience going with a group of girlfriends. And I love the colours you created! That red is bright and sexy…haha! Also cool that you can pick your own scents – your choices sound yummy!

Were they willing to redo the colour for you over and over again until you were happy? Just asking because I noticed both of your shades only had two versions, so I didn’t know if they just happened to get the shades perfect on the second try.

I think I would totally create an MLBB lip shade if I ever got a chance to create my own lipstick. Like you said, an “MLBB” is different for everyone and while I’ve found some shades off the shelf that I really like, none of them are really a 100% MLBB.

Also, I think you need to get a new career naming makeup products. I’d totally buy a shade named “I’m Not Really a Streetwalker”, LOL!

It definitely wouldn’t have been the same if I’d gone alone. Half the fun was the collaborative effort of the group feedback!

Yes, you can get as many iterations as you need to get to the right mix. I just so happened to be happy after my 2nd mix. Or, perhaps Jen was just THAT good! 😛

I noted that my MLBB shades are actually a mixture of some actual BITE Beauty lip colours. I guess I could go buy 3 of their lipsticks and mix them up myself… 😆 It would actually be more expensive to do that!

This looks very cool! I’ve always wondered about the production process – how neat to see it done up close.

And holy wow, the red you made!!! I cannot believe it. Bet you rock it, for sure! Uh, the nude’s nice, too. Heh. And yeah, when I saw the list of scents available, coconut lime was the first one I thought of. Om nom nom.

I totally thought of you when I was creating that red lipstick! The final shade is very crisp and really brightens the face. I have yet to wear it out… I am wearing Sleepy Tofu today instead! 😉 Oh yeah, coconut lime is so tropical.
Oooh I just looked up Spanish Red – very pretty! You should treat yourself. 😉

Thank you – I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
You definitely need to do this, you’re much more of a lipstick fiend than I am. I know you’d savour the process too. 🙂 What types of colours would you want to create?

I hope you get a chance to visit the BITE Lip Lap – they have one in NYC too. I love the idea of customized makeup. Once, I saw they’re trying to develop a machine that will produce custom eye shadows, blushes, foundations… I think it was trying to raise enough money to mass produce them but they’re still REALLY expensive.

You actually think I’ll use up these lipsticks? Wow, you have so much faith in me… 😛
Well, I don’t think of $150 for just 2 lipsticks. It’s an hour and a half of experience in creating them and the personal attention from the Lip Lab artists. 🙂 I’m going to purge the majority of my lip products coming up soon… so maybe I’ll go back for more for my birthday so I have just a curated lip collection of bespoke lipsticks!

Sounds like you ladies had a fantastic time! I’ve always wanted to visit the Bite Beauty Lab but I haven’t been to Toronto since it opened. It’s definitely high on my list of places I need to go 🙂 the shades you created are beautiful!

This is something that I dreamt of having for ages. I envy that you got to have your own lipshade.. the experience is so grand and special! That red is something I expected to be the outcome of your choices basing on the red that you featured from your blog ( I just hope that I got that one right ✌) a year back. It’s already dancing in my mind. 🙂 And Oh, that nude just perfect. So sad, can this be out in the market?:) So sweet of you to name it after Tofu.
I just know coconut lime will win! Hehe. Hmmm not sure if this will stay long on my lips with those scents. 💓💓💓 you Stashy! Remarkable as always.

It really was so special! The whole process and even the studio space.
I did have a red at one point but I had to purge it because the lipstick went bad! 😦
Aww haha, I would be honoured if they created a permanent shade of Sleepy Tofu! It’s both mauve-y yet has a warm tone… I don’t know how they did that!
The customized scents adds a whole other level of bespoke to these lipsticks! 😀 I’m glad you enjoyed!

What a fun thing to do with a group of girls! I’m kicking myself because the last time I was in NY I stopped by the Bite Beauty Lab and they had no appointments left. 😦 It just looks like such an amazing experience from start to finish.

Aw sucks about the NYC location. Well, that just means you need to do it in Toronto next time you’re around! 😉
Since making these lipsticks, I’m reviewing my lipstick collection with a critical eye – I’m going to purge pretty much most of what I have. There’s really no point keeping a lot of them around “just because”. I never wear them but I will wear these!

Stashy it was so much fun to be with you at Bite! It was amazing to get to create fun lipsticks and I absolutely adore your colours. You are right about the experience! IT was AMAZING! Thank you for being an amazing lipstick buddy. I’m so grateful. I adore your new layout on your blog! It is beyond amazing and I love your photos by the way. They are SICK! 🙂 The video is lovely! It’s nice to have video! LOVE IT! wonderful and thank you for sharing your lovely experience with us. I’m totally going back to BITE to make more lipsticks for the summer. I feel the colours I chose are really FALL colours which I tend to go for and now I’m going to probably go back to make Summer light colours. 🙂 Love your post and again it was lovely! xoxoxo

Hello my lipstick making buddy! 😀
I’m so glad we met up and got to spend the evening together. 🙂 What better way to meet new people than to bond over MAKEUP?! XD
You know, after I got home and reviewed my photos on Monday night (after Easter long weekend!) I thought I’d taken more photos but I guess not… 😛
I think it makes sense that you chose warmer tones since they suit you SO well. I loved both of your shades – I think my next batch of custom lipsticks would include that warm peachy shade you made. ❤

It was so much fun and I love your lipsticks so much! They look beautiful on you! It was incredible to chat and finally meet you. You are amazing and I look forward to more fun events together. Mega love and hugs and have a beautiful weekend!

Aw, I tease. I actually don’t think Toronto is all that great for tourists… it’s a fantastic place to LIVE, but not that amazing to visit. Relative to other major world-class cities like NYC, London, Tokyo – Toronto is just so sprawling and not easy to navigate. It’s really not all that unique either. For a taste of “Canada”, I really think Montreal or Vancouver are more unique.

Hehehe, pretending to work is always a challenge. I’ve got 2 screens and I probably should get a privacy screen put on one of them. 😛
I hope you get to do this one of these days – making your own makeup is such a unique experience!

This experience sounds like a blast! The shades you created are so pretty and so YOU – I especially love Sleepy Tofu. I have actually made my own lipstick before. I did it with my boyfriend’s mum last year and while it’s not as fancy as yours and I don’t wear the lipstick, it’s special and will always hold a memory 🙂

Ooh that UNE lipstick is pretty! For me, that would register too brown, but I know that type of shade works on a lot of people. I need some mauvey yet somehow peachy tone for my nude lip.

Hehe, yeah the lippie background – I think I’m going to keep it on for a bit! 💄💋

I haven’t had time to attempt nail stamping yet. I keep thinking I’ll try one weekend but we keep being busy on the weekends. Might have to wait until I actually have time off to attempt! 😛 Plus, I’d have to document the attempt through photos! 😉

Wow that’s so cool and what a fantastic thing to do!! And the business idea itself is great. At first I thought it was a bar/restaurant…hahaha… The lipstick bar!! Everything looks amazing and if I get the chance I’d like to do this myself one day. Haven’t heard anything like this here in italy.
The shades you got there are fabolous, love them both.
And by the way, love your new website design!!

It does look kind of like a bar! I wonder if people ever wander off the street asking if they can eat there… well, they can eat lipsticks! 💄😭
This would be such a great concept in Italy! Customized beauty seems like the new trend.
Thanks – I’m glad you like the site makeover! 😀

Yes, reading yours brought me back to the evening again too! It was such a fun time! I’m glad I got to experience it with you girls! ❤
I hope you'll get some good suggestions for your shade names – what a great idea to solicit input! 😉